Points from DGCA meet on airport wheelchair troubleshooting

[Vaishnavi Jayakumar (Inclusive India)]

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From: Vaishnavi Jayakumar (Inclusive India) <vaishnavi...@inclusiveindia.info>
Date: Thu, 1 May, 2025, 08:54
Subject: Points from DGCA meet on airport wheelchair troubleshooting

Arman and I had a meeting with DGCA head Mr Faiz Kidwai and his team - I joined online. We were connected to Mr Kidwai via an ally after the Raj Pasricha stroke incident and this meeting has taken a while to convene.

The following was discussed - DGCA plans to execute this along with airlines especially since the Bombay High Court has requested a committee - we will be giving them a write up which will be shared when that happens 

1) Data-based troubleshooting needs to be our approach assuming domestic wheelchair use (instead of the trope of international first time travellers misusing free wheelchair service for speeder immigration.) 

At the same time -  greying of population, higher proportion of passengers with reduced mobility in air travel because other modes are simply not possible currently, unfriendly airport design and focus shifting from primary purpose of transport making for longer walks - perhaps the 

2) SSR codes to be captured at online booking stage. WCHR, WCHS, WCHC for buggy.vs wheelchair numbers, ambulift vs aero bridge decision-making to get clearer idea on requirements of ambulant PRMs vs fulltime wheelchair users.

BLND, DEAF, DPNA as well. MAAS to be popularised.

3) Kerb side and gate side booth disability assistance by airport with fixed wheelchair points in between in case of emergency - revisiting Asok Kumar committee report points that were missed out in the CAR.

4) Drop off zone misuse and unnecessary requirement of proof of disability to use drop off zone. Digiyatra levels of frictionless travel.

5) Indoor mapping with accessible route and disability related facilities

6) Foreign airlines have to comply with CAR and not insist on attendant

7) Seating preferences being charged along with other CAR deviations

8) Security check SOP with Air Sewa QR code infographic at identified PRM screening queue with wider xray and accessible screening booth. BCAS procedure rollback to sector submitted guidance. 

9) Gate checked mobility device SOP - storage and retrieval

A lot of this ties in with the transport accessibility framework submitted by us to the relevant ministries in Rajive Raturi - explaining / reference links can be accessed there :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bcXJZ4gEuuYUeipdrkSI-nQE_z1aK4_A/view?usp=drive_link

[Vaishnavi Jayakumar]

------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Vaishnavi Jayakumar (Inclusive India) <vaishnavi...@inclusiveindia.info>

Date: Sat, 17 May, 2025, 18:43
Subject: Re: Points from DGCA meet on airport wheelchair troubleshooting

This draft advisory was submitted to DGCA today along with the SSR code based booking process.

Inputs welcome. 

Live versions 

(Further refining happening)

Presentation - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tdevuLkXFUD2Bu6Oyr1ejZcUoqYfkfQAHsgfJwbHM9g/edit?usp=sharing

Booking Form - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tdevuLkXFUD2Bu6Oyr1ejZcUoqYfkfQAHsgfJwbHM9g/edit?usp=sharing